Well after much lurking here at Badger & Blade doing my research (Google+Forum=instant expert) I ordered a Merkur HD barber pole last week.
I was sick of spending big bucks on mach 3 and having them last maybe 3 shaves (MAN WITH A SERIOUS BEARD HERE! My partner says I remind her of The Simpson's ep where Homer shaves and it grows right back before he steps away from the mirror) so...
...the Merkur arrived, I put a Gillette 7 o'clock blade in and lathered with Gillette Shaving Gel (chose not to lash out on a brush and shaving soap as I have a nearly full can and part of this was about actually saving money and resources so it seemed wasteful not to use it).
Things went slowly...very very slowly. It took like 25 minutes to shave but I made it through without a scratch and it was a pretty damned fine first effort. The blade and the razor was a very different feel for a very experienced 41 year old shaver. I thought perhaps years of shaving meant my technique wasn't too bad.
I went the witch hazel afterwards and was pretty pleased with my efforts for DE #1. Another day spent lurking on this site and I thought I'd whip out in my lunch hour and grab a BodyShop synthetic brush ($17 - a good cheap start I thought) and some soap - I got the Crabtree and Evelyn Sandalwood in a slick wooden bowl.
So this morning I crack the soap and brush and lather up according to the handy tips from this here forum...
OH. MY. GOD. The difference between a shaving soap and the foam or gel I've been using for years was astounding. Just a mindblowing lather and a completely different feel to any shaving experience I'd ever had. Where have you been all my life?
I suspect that the awesomeness of the lather made it easier for me to press too hard as I have some slightly stinging skin still - a few hours after DE #2 but again, no cuts or nicks and wow - shaving soap and a brush FTW! However it still took a really slow and cautious 15+ minutes to get there.
So why did we ever move to foam in a can? I might have to go the Mach3 for speed shaving now and again but I wouldn't ever go back to foam after this brush and soap.
And now the questions
1: Can any experienced DE shavers give me an idea of how fast they manage to lather and shave? And how many shaves/years did this take to achieve?
2: So what's with the stinging? Witchazel and moisturiser did nothing to relieve this and it lasted/is lasting a long time.
I was sick of spending big bucks on mach 3 and having them last maybe 3 shaves (MAN WITH A SERIOUS BEARD HERE! My partner says I remind her of The Simpson's ep where Homer shaves and it grows right back before he steps away from the mirror) so...
...the Merkur arrived, I put a Gillette 7 o'clock blade in and lathered with Gillette Shaving Gel (chose not to lash out on a brush and shaving soap as I have a nearly full can and part of this was about actually saving money and resources so it seemed wasteful not to use it).
Things went slowly...very very slowly. It took like 25 minutes to shave but I made it through without a scratch and it was a pretty damned fine first effort. The blade and the razor was a very different feel for a very experienced 41 year old shaver. I thought perhaps years of shaving meant my technique wasn't too bad.
I went the witch hazel afterwards and was pretty pleased with my efforts for DE #1. Another day spent lurking on this site and I thought I'd whip out in my lunch hour and grab a BodyShop synthetic brush ($17 - a good cheap start I thought) and some soap - I got the Crabtree and Evelyn Sandalwood in a slick wooden bowl.
So this morning I crack the soap and brush and lather up according to the handy tips from this here forum...
OH. MY. GOD. The difference between a shaving soap and the foam or gel I've been using for years was astounding. Just a mindblowing lather and a completely different feel to any shaving experience I'd ever had. Where have you been all my life?
I suspect that the awesomeness of the lather made it easier for me to press too hard as I have some slightly stinging skin still - a few hours after DE #2 but again, no cuts or nicks and wow - shaving soap and a brush FTW! However it still took a really slow and cautious 15+ minutes to get there.
So why did we ever move to foam in a can? I might have to go the Mach3 for speed shaving now and again but I wouldn't ever go back to foam after this brush and soap.
And now the questions
1: Can any experienced DE shavers give me an idea of how fast they manage to lather and shave? And how many shaves/years did this take to achieve?
2: So what's with the stinging? Witchazel and moisturiser did nothing to relieve this and it lasted/is lasting a long time.